3 Hurlburt Field airmen featured in 'Portraits in Courage'

Published: Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 05:40 PM.

HURLBURT FIELD — On the ground in Afghanistan, the airmen fought furious gun battles, had shrapnel explode into their legs or used their bodies as shields to protect their teammates.

Three Hurlburt Field special operations airmen are featured in the Air Force’s annual Portraits in Courage series, which was released on Wednesday, for their actions in combat in Afghanistan over the last three years.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Norman Brozenick Jr., vice commander for Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt, said he is “extremely proud” to have the airmen selected.

“This is another example of how our air commandos answer our nation’s call anytime, anyplace,” he said. “Their leadership on the battlefield, bravery and selfless actions set the standard for all of our airmen.”

Along with 19 other airmen, the publication tells the stories of two combat controllers with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron — Staff Sgt. Michael Blout and Staff Sgt. Kyle Fulton — and an explosive ordnance disposal technician, Tech Sgt. Ronnie Brickey with the Air Force Special Operations School.

Staff Sgt. Michael Blout

On Oct. 23, 2012, Blout was deployed as a combat controller in Chak Valley, an insurgent hotbed in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province. Combat controllers deploy with Special Forces teams on the ground to help coordinate aircraft during the fight.

As Blout’s team patrolled through the jungle-like undergrowth that day, they were ambushed and immediately took casualties. His chief warrant officer was shot several times in the chest and legs.

Under a barrage of machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades from the trees nearby, Blout darted into a clearing between his team and the enemy. He fired back while using his headset to coordinate an air attack by a nearby AC-130 gunship and call in a helicopter for a medical evacuation.

The enemy attack was too strong to land the helicopter so Blout had to call it off to avoid more casualties. He and his team were able to clear the area and resume the evacuation of his wounded officer.

His actions “averted catastrophe,” preventing the loss of the helicopter and additional troops, according to the publication.

Bout was awarded the Silver Star.

Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Brickey

Brickey’s acts of courage took place on May 31 and June 1, 2011.

On the first day, the explosive ordnance technician was conducting a routine sweep to look for bombs. He spotted a pressure plate-activated explosive, which saved the life of another EOD technician.

After disposing of the bomb, the enemy immediately began firing on his team. With bullets passing “mere feet from his head,” Brickey provided cover while directing his team to maneuver to a safer place where they could use overwhelming firepower to force the enemy to retreat.

The next day, an Army infantry element was ambushed by a complex improvised bomb attack and one person was killed. Brickey’s EOD team responded and found three more booby-trapped bombs in the area.

They again came under attack as they tried to dispose of the explosives.

Brickey exposed himself to small arms fire in to make a safe evacuation path for his team, but the enemy was precisely directing the attack and the soldiers could not get far enough away from the explosive.

Brickey chose to dispose of the IED while under fire. He attached the appropriate tool and directed his EOD team members to perform the remaining procedure remotely.

He then used his body to cover his teammates to protect them from the potential blast.

His actions helped the team end the 40-minute firefight and clear the area of improvised bombs.

Brickey was awarded his fifth Bronze Star with Valor. He is the fifth airman in Air Force history to receive five or more Bronze Stars.

Staff Sgt. Kyle Fulton

On Dec. 2, 2012, Fulton was deployed to Jalalabad Air Force Base as a combat controller after a large explosion breached an entry to the base. When he and his team arrived, they found special operations forces in a furious firefight with insurgents.

Fulton fired back and killed two insurgents.

Less than 15 meters away, a suicide vest detonated. Within 10 meters, grenades were exploding.

Fulton and his teammate tossed 40mm grenades to try to fend off the attack until an enemy grenade exploded and buried shrapnel in his leg.

“He deftly applied two tourniquets to stem his bleeding and, when two teammates shifted to cover his position, focused on directing attack aircraft onto remaining enemy positions,” according to Portraits in Courage.

His actions prevented the enemy from storming the air base and allowed wounded troops to be evacuated. He has been nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor.

TO LEARN MORE: Find Profiles in Courage at www.static.dma.mil./usaf.courage.

HURLBURT FIELD — On the ground in Afghanistan, the airmen fought furious gun battles, had shrapnel explode into their legs or used their bodies as shields to protect their teammates.

Three Hurlburt Field special operations airmen are featured in the Air Force’s annual Portraits in Courage series, which was released on Wednesday, for their actions in combat in Afghanistan over the last three years.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Norman Brozenick Jr., vice commander for Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt, said he is “extremely proud” to have the airmen selected.

“This is another example of how our air commandos answer our nation’s call anytime, anyplace,” he said. “Their leadership on the battlefield, bravery and selfless actions set the standard for all of our airmen.”

Along with 19 other airmen, the publication tells the stories of two combat controllers with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron — Staff Sgt. Michael Blout and Staff Sgt. Kyle Fulton — and an explosive ordnance disposal technician, Tech Sgt. Ronnie Brickey with the Air Force Special Operations School.

Staff Sgt. Michael Blout

On Oct. 23, 2012, Blout was deployed as a combat controller in Chak Valley, an insurgent hotbed in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province. Combat controllers deploy with Special Forces teams on the ground to help coordinate aircraft during the fight.

As Blout’s team patrolled through the jungle-like undergrowth that day, they were ambushed and immediately took casualties. His chief warrant officer was shot several times in the chest and legs.

Under a barrage of machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades from the trees nearby, Blout darted into a clearing between his team and the enemy. He fired back while using his headset to coordinate an air attack by a nearby AC-130 gunship and call in a helicopter for a medical evacuation.

The enemy attack was too strong to land the helicopter so Blout had to call it off to avoid more casualties. He and his team were able to clear the area and resume the evacuation of his wounded officer.

His actions “averted catastrophe,” preventing the loss of the helicopter and additional troops, according to the publication.

Bout was awarded the Silver Star.

Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Brickey

Brickey’s acts of courage took place on May 31 and June 1, 2011.

On the first day, the explosive ordnance technician was conducting a routine sweep to look for bombs. He spotted a pressure plate-activated explosive, which saved the life of another EOD technician.

After disposing of the bomb, the enemy immediately began firing on his team. With bullets passing “mere feet from his head,” Brickey provided cover while directing his team to maneuver to a safer place where they could use overwhelming firepower to force the enemy to retreat.

The next day, an Army infantry element was ambushed by a complex improvised bomb attack and one person was killed. Brickey’s EOD team responded and found three more booby-trapped bombs in the area.

They again came under attack as they tried to dispose of the explosives.

Brickey exposed himself to small arms fire in to make a safe evacuation path for his team, but the enemy was precisely directing the attack and the soldiers could not get far enough away from the explosive.

Brickey chose to dispose of the IED while under fire. He attached the appropriate tool and directed his EOD team members to perform the remaining procedure remotely.

He then used his body to cover his teammates to protect them from the potential blast.

His actions helped the team end the 40-minute firefight and clear the area of improvised bombs.

Brickey was awarded his fifth Bronze Star with Valor. He is the fifth airman in Air Force history to receive five or more Bronze Stars.

Staff Sgt. Kyle Fulton

On Dec. 2, 2012, Fulton was deployed to Jalalabad Air Force Base as a combat controller after a large explosion breached an entry to the base. When he and his team arrived, they found special operations forces in a furious firefight with insurgents.

Fulton fired back and killed two insurgents.

Less than 15 meters away, a suicide vest detonated. Within 10 meters, grenades were exploding.

Fulton and his teammate tossed 40mm grenades to try to fend off the attack until an enemy grenade exploded and buried shrapnel in his leg.

“He deftly applied two tourniquets to stem his bleeding and, when two teammates shifted to cover his position, focused on directing attack aircraft onto remaining enemy positions,” according to Portraits in Courage.

His actions prevented the enemy from storming the air base and allowed wounded troops to be evacuated. He has been nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor.

TO LEARN MORE: Find Profiles in Courage at www.static.dma.mil./usaf.courage.